Marianne Moore Quotes

A mistake made by many people with great convictions is that they will let nothing stand in the way of their views, not even kindness.

Woman, essentially a purist, is naturally bigoted and relentless in her effort to make others as good as she thinks they ought to be.

Very often, fanaticism begins at home. It begins inside the family. It begins with the urge to change our kin, to change our beloved ones for their own good because we think we know better than them what is good and what is bad for them, what is right and what is wrong in their thinking.

It is not possible to unknow what you do know - the result of that is fanaticism.

Throughout human history, the apostles of purity, those who have claimed to possess a total explanation, have wrought havoc among mere mixed-up human beings.

Conviction without experience makes for harshness.

The persecuting spirit has its origin... in the assumption that one's own opinions are infallibly correct.

The need to be right is the sign of a vulgar mind.

I have an intense dislike of doctrines, because you will always end up eating your words.

From a worldly point of view, there is no mistake so great as that of being always right.

It is from a weakness and smallness of mind that men are opinionated; and we are very loath to believe what we are not able to comprehend.

The less one knows, the more he thinks he knows, and the more willing he is to employ any and all measures to enforce his views upon others.

When we believe ourselves in possession of the only truth, we are likely to be indifferent to common everyday truths.

Those who believe that they have absolute truth and the only moral system are destructive both to themselves and to those whom they try to convert.

There is such a thing as fanaticism, it is always wrong, and if you disagree, you're wrong too.

The enemy of idealism is zealotry.

Nothing so obstinately stands in the way of all sorts of progress as pride of opinion. While nothing is so foolish and baseless.

Opinions founded on prejudice are always sustained with the greatest violence.

He that is always right is usually wrong.

Fanaticism is ... overcompensation for doubt.

Obstinacy and heat of opinion are the surest proof of stupidity.

It comes to pass that men do so magnify their own opinions, and are as censorious of any that differ from them in lesser things

Extremists think "communication" means agreeing with them.

The opposite of compromise is fanaticism and death.

I have often thought that one of the less attractive traits of various professional bodies and institutions is the deeply ingrained suspicion and outright hostility which can exist towards anything unorthodox or unconventional.